Blog / First Night Takeovers

Check here for the latest musical news with links to all your #StageFaves performers, shows and theatres. Also look out for our regular #GetSocial features and contributions from our syndicate media partners including MyTheatreMates.com and the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society.

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening night of The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ The Musical at the Ambassadors Theatre. Described by one cast member as ‘the Pixar of British stage musicals’, Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary’s inspiring show gives Perry goosebumps so he is thrilled to catch up several members of the cast: both the grown-ups and children. Will the musical be a big hit? Perry thinks so!

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the London premiere of Broadway musical The Light In The Piazza at the Royal Festival Hall. Perry gets goosebumps from the beauty and style of the show and has the added bonus of catching up with several members of the cast afterwards including Dove Cameron, Rob Houchen, Celinde Schoenmaker and Liam Tamne. Oh and did we mention that he bumped into Tony Award-winner Ben Platt too?

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening of AMOUR at the Charing Cross Theatre. Perry was there taking in the intimate atmosphere of Michel Legrand’s musical fantasy and of course fitting in some post-show chats with cast members Anna O’Byrne, Elissa Churchill and Claire Machin. It was a ‘chocolate box of delightful joy’ and Perry seems to have loved every bite!

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Marika Visser attending the West End opening of Man Of La Mancha at the London Coliseum. Marika was there on the Red Carpet, ready to ‘dream the impossible dream’ and finally tick the show off her bucket list as this is the first West End production of the show for 50 years. Shall we see how she got on?

After a sell-out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Trevor Nunn's critically acclaimed revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF has transferred to the West End's Playhouse Theatre for a limited season. Continuing our #FirstNightTakeover series, Faves vlogger Perry O'Bree was there. Amongst the opening night audience, he rubbed elbows with husband-and-wife West End stars Michael Jibson and Caroline Sheen and with onstage father and daughter stars Andy Nyman and Harriet Bunton. Watch what happened here!

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening of the delicious WAITRESS at the Adelphi Theatre. Perry was there on the Red Carpet – rubbing shoulders with Carrie Hope Fletcher and Cuba Gooding Jr – plus post-show there was a chance to chat to cast members Peter Hannah and Shaun Prendergast. And did we mention Perry squeezed in meeting awesome Waitress composer Sara Bareilles too? It’s amazing what a little baking can do.

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening of Tony Award-winning Canadian musical Come From Away at the Phoenix Theatre. Perry was there at the after-party to catch up with several members of the cast including Rachel Tucker and Jenna Boyd, plus he also caught up with original stranded passenger Kevin Tuerff, and Janice Goudie – one of the islanders who expressed such love and compassion to the 7,000 people diverted to their hometown during the wake of 9/11. Welcome to the Rock…

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening of Dolly Parton’s 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL at the Savoy Theatre, continuing in the West End to 31 August 2019. Perry was there at the after-party to catch up with several members of the cast including Caroline Sheen, Amber Davies, Natalie McQueen, Brian Conley and Bonnie Langford. Watch out for Brian describing Perry as one of the best theatre vloggers around & some expert video-bombing fromOlivier Award winner Michael Jibson!

Paul Taylor-Mills’ plans for MT Fest UK, a two-week festival of new musical theatre, already sounded exciting, but a bonus comes in the shape of Night Caps, an informal late-night concerts series as part of the event featuring some of the country’s eminent musical theatre stars.

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the London opening of ASPECTS OF LOVE at Southwark Playhouse. Dressed appropriately (you’ll see what we mean), Perry is wowed by the beautiful setting for Jonathan O'Boyle’s acclaimed chamber revival, the gorgeous score and the stunning performances. Plus he gets to chat with several of the cast including Jerome Pradon, Madalena Alberto, Felix Mosse, Kelly Price and Eleanor Walsh. Does love change everything? Read on and find out…

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening of CAROLINE, OR CHANGE at the Playhouse Theatre, continuing in the West End to 9 February 2019 following sell-out seasons at Chichester and Hampstead. Perry was there at the after-party to catch up with several members of the cast including Sharon D Clarke (who “blew the roof off the Playhouse”), Naana Agyei-Ampadu, Alastair Brookshaw, Me’sha Bryan and Lauren Ward. It turned out to be quite an emotional night!

StageFaves’ Perry O’Bree attended the West End charity gala opening of The Band at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, a special night raising money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Perry was there on the Red Carpet to chat to all the talented cast – one confessed to being a big fan of Perry – as well as Take That’s Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams too! Are you ready to see them ‘Shine’?

Is there a bigger American TV tradition than Saturday Night Live!? The show not only brings the funny every week, it peppers in plenty of sketches for the Musical Theatre geek! It's been a few years now since this sketch, but we think it's as funny as ever. From the Phantom trying to run the meeting to Elphaba lamenting her narrow casting bracket, this is worth a watch for any musical geek!

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O'Bree at the world premiere of wacky American musical It Happened in Key West at London's Charing Cross Theatre. How much love is there for this life-and-death romantic comedy? What did stars Alyssa Martyn and Wade McCollum profess? (And spot #stagey blogger Charlotte O'Growney with Perry at the interval!)

For our first-ever, out-of-town #FirstNightTakeover, Perry O'Bree jumped on a coach from London to Cirencester in the heart of the Cotswolds to help inaugurate the brand-new Barn Theatre on the opening night of its first offering, a 12-strong, actor-musician version of THE SECRET GARDEN. In addition to the cast, Perry caught a few other familiar West End #StageFaves making the trip, including Liam Tamne, Verity Rushworth and the theatre's own artistic director, former actor Iwan Lewis...

Time for another #FirstNightTakeover! Perry O'Bree was back on the red carpet on 8 February 2018 at the opening night of ALL OR NOTHING at the Arts Theatre. There were mods, motorbikes and myriad stars who came out in force to London's West End to enjoy the show!

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O'Bree attending the West End opening of GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY, which has transferred for a limited season at the Noel Coward Theatre following its lauded world premiere at the Old Vic. Can you name all the celebs Perry spotted on the red carpet? (Hint: They include Hollywood royalty Cate Blanchett!)

THE GRINNING MAN got its London premiere this week at the West End's Trafalgar Studios and is capturing the hearts of audiences and reviewers alike. Whether it's the puppets, the haunting score or the fantastic lead performance from Louis Maskell, we've rounded up the best reviews for your pleasure and perusal...

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O'Bree attending the West End premiere (on 14 December 2017) of macabre musical masterpiece THE GRINNING MAN, which has transferred to Trafalgar Studios after its award-winning 2016 world premiere at Bristol Old Vic. In addition to capturing the creepy atmosphere and Trafalgar transformation, Perry caught up with show stars Louis Maskell, Sanne den Besten and Amanda Wilkin, as well as fellow #StageFave Hannah Waddingham, who recently recorded her own version of one of the show's songs...

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O'Bree attending the West End premiere (on 22 November 2017) of EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE at the Apollo Theatre. What happened when he met the real-life teen drag queen Jamie Campbell, who inspired the musical?